Li Dai then said slowly: "Everyone knows what the regent is going to do next. Can he take over? The problem shouldn't be big, but he has one of his biggest weaknesses. He is not ruthless enough and treats others too generously. Although everyone knows this weakness
I like them all, but it’s not a good thing for an emperor. Senior is a sensible person, so I don’t need to explain it clearly!”
Wei Jiansu nodded silently. He could completely understand what Li Dai meant. The emperor was not a kind person, especially the regent who was not an orthodox person. If he was too generous, it would be seen as weak in the eyes of others. On the contrary, he would make the people below look down on you. In the end, he would definitely
Influence the superior.
Li Dai continued: "I am his father, and me presiding over the political affairs hall will constrain him and make it difficult for him to implement many major political plans, such as tax reform. He has been clamoring for it since last year. It is already February and there is no movement yet. Why?
Because the abolition of the household tax affects the vital interests of many people, many people do not say so in words, but are secretly resisting. If this tax reform fails, it will seriously damage the prestige of the regent.
If it is forcibly promoted, it will inevitably arouse stronger resistance. At this time, a more wily and senior minister is needed to sit in the political hall to solve the crisis facing the regent and push him forward. This person is the senior!"
Only then did Wei Jiansu understand Li Dai's good intentions, hoping that he would promote the regent to the throne.
After a moment of silence, Wei Jiansu said slowly: "Actually, I think the regent's implementation of tax reform was a bit too hasty. He abolished the household tax in order to increase the population. I understand his mood, but there is no need to rush. His position is not stable yet. His position is not stable yet.
If you take too big a step, you will easily fall. Don’t worry, Jingwen! I will find an opportunity to persuade him."
"That's good. It's useless for me to persuade him. Maybe senior can persuade him and he can listen."
After coming out of the restaurant, Wei Jiansu took a carriage back to the political hall. He thought for a long time and sent someone to invite Li Mi.
Not long after, Li Mi walked over quickly, clasped his fists and said with a smile: "Congratulations to Wei Shangshu for being promoted to right prime minister!"
"Thank you! Li Shangshu, please take a seat."
The two of them sat down separately, and Wei Jiansu said slowly: "I discovered something strange. When I was in Longyou, the Helong Jiedu Mansion implemented a salt and iron monopoly, so Bashu should also implement it! This time the tax
Why are we trying it again in Bashu?"
Li Mi smiled and said: "The tax reform implemented this time is still different from the salt and iron monopoly in Helong. The salt and iron monopoly in Helong does not involve other taxes. This time it involves various other taxes, so Bashu needs to conduct a new pilot."
Wei Jiansu nodded, "Does Li Shangshu think it is reasonable to abolish the household tax, commercial tax and other miscellaneous taxes? In addition, the country people have to collect land tax, but the city people want to abolish the household tax. Does Li Shangshu think it is fair?"
Li Mi smiled bitterly and said: "There are indeed some unreasonable things here, such as commercial tax. Perhaps His Highness's original intention was to reduce the burden on merchants and prosper commerce. He abolished commercial tax in Helong and the effect was very good. Maybe His Highness
The interests of local governments are not taken into account, and the same goes for household taxes. Local governments have a share of profits. Once the household tax is abolished, it will inevitably affect the interests of local governments. And the local governments cannot get the salt and iron taxes, which will trigger local government
Conflict with the imperial court."
After a pause, Li Mi asked again: "Does Wei Xiangguo have a good plan?"
Wei Jiansu said slowly: "My idea is very simple. It must achieve the purpose of the regent without affecting local interests and at the same time reduce the burden on the people."
"It's not easy to kill three birds with one stone like this!"
Wei Jiansu whispered a few words to Li Mi. Li Mi nodded repeatedly and said with a smile: "Ginger is indeed very spicy, you can give it a try!"
"If Li Shangshu agrees to my plan, we will discuss it with His Highness."
How else to say that Wei Jiansu has become a master? He knew that it would be difficult to convince the regent on his own, but if Li Mi was added, Li Ye would be easily convinced.
Soon, Wei Jiansu and Li Mi appeared in Li Ye's official room.
Wei Jiansu bowed and said: "Wei Chen understands His Highness' intention to withdraw from the tax reform. The world is about to be unified, so it is natural to reduce the burden on the people and implement recuperation. However, if the reform is too urgent and directly affects the interests of the local government, it will inevitably
Will encounter resistance from local officials.
Just like Cui Yuan, His Highness also knows that he is not coveting his children because he is greedy for money. He is actually sabotaging the tax reform implemented in Bashu. If His Highness does not consider this issue, Wei Chen is worried that there will be countless Cui Yuan in the world, and at the same time, he is secretly
It is spreading all over the world, how much energy do the inner guards have to investigate it?"
In the past, when Wei Jiansu was not the right prime minister, he never mentioned these issues. Now that he is the right prime minister, he has responsibilities, so he must make these words clear.
Li Ye was silent for a moment and said: "But when I visited Jiangnan and Fujian, I realized that the tax burden is so heavy that the local government can no longer bear it. I believe that the local government welcomes the tax reform."
"No! The tax reform welcomed by the local government is a reform that does not affect their interests. Otherwise, there would not be so many officials supporting Cui Yuan. Don't these officials know that Cui Yuan's son is selling illegal salt? They know it, but they are condoning it.
It’s not that they have a good personal relationship with Cui Yuan, but they still support Cui Yuan in resisting tax reform.”
Li Mi also said: "Your Highness, the Longyou region is easy to change, but the world is too complicated and involves too many people's interests. Your Highness's foundation is not strong, and I also advise you to be cautious!"
Li Ye was more willing to follow Li Mi's advice. Since Li Mi also advised him to be cautious, he must patiently talk to Wei Jiansu.
"What good ideas does Wei Xiangguo have?"
"The minister's first suggestion is to subtract the tax bonus. Maybe His Highness doesn't know that the biggest source of resentment in the southern states is the sharing of military expenditures. When it comes to implementation, it's the tax bonus. All taxes are divided.
An additional 30% would overwhelm the people and make local officials very dissatisfied.
Therefore, the bonus should be removed first, because local governments cannot get this bonus, and they will definitely cooperate, which will greatly reduce the burden on the people.
Second, the salt and iron monopoly should be changed into a salt and iron wine monopoly, with the wine part being localized.
Third, the land should be inventoried, and the unowned land should be taken back to the government, and the local government can rent it out to increase revenue.
Fourth, continue to collect commercial taxes, which are uniformly set at 5% of the value of goods. This tax revenue still belongs to local governments. In order to prevent local governments from intercepting merchants to collect taxes, it is necessary to strictly implement the rules of taxation when entering the city, unified rules in the world, and eliminate strange things.
Rules require severe punishment.
When the local government has these three additional revenues, which will be enough to make up for their share of the household tax, then Your Highness will adjust the household tax and field tax, and the resistance from the local government will not be so fierce."
Next to him, Li Bi laughed and said: "His Highness often told us in the past that we should implement a policy of adding carrots and sticks. This time, His Highness only uses sticks and no carrots for tax reform. Of course the local government will resist."
Wei Jiansu also smiled and said: "The carrot plus the stick is a good method. One hand is hard and the other is soft."
Li Ye nodded, "Tell me how to adjust the household tax and land tax?"
Wei Jiansu continued: "Wei Chen's principle is to make taxes fair. Your Highness cannot just abolish the household tax and retain the field tax. This would be unfair to the farmers. If the local government is dissatisfied, the farmers will also be resentful. Once they are instigated, the farmers will have to